Days 7-8: Mammoth Lakes
Follow the Tioga Pass to Mammoth Lakes, a majestic year-round Adventureland. Autumn in Mammoth Lakes is a glorious time of year when the mountains and forests are painted gold, crimson and orange. Laced with rugged canyons carved by rushing streams, Mammoth Lakes is home to some of the finest leaf-peeping in the world. Its elevation range means that leaves start to turn in September and, depending on elevation, autumn foliage can be seen as late as November.
(We are very grateful to Mike Matrix who kindly gave us permission to us the incredible image shown above.)
Many of the region’s most popular activities, including hiking, fishing, cycling, boating and climbing all continue well into autumn. Witness incredible feats of mountain biking at Mammoth Kamikaze Bike Games or crack open a locally brewed beer and listen to emerging artists at June Lake Jam Fest. visitmammoth.com
Days 9-10: Greater Palm Springs
Journey south and end your epic road trip in Greater Palm Springs, California’s coolest desert region. Nine different ‘cities’ make up Greater Palm Springs, including Desert Hot Springs, Palm Springs, Cathedral City, Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert, Indian Wells, La Quinta, Indio and Coachella, each offering an individual experience.
Autumn is one of the best times to visit Great Palm Springs as the desert region offers blue skies and temperatures of up to 32 °C. There’s also plenty to see and do, from Joshua Tree Music Festival, 10-14 October, to Greater Palm Springs Pride in downtown Palm Springs from 1-3 November. Conveniently located two hours west of LAX, Greater Palm Springs is the best place to wrap up your California road trip. visitgreaterpalmsprings.com
Ultimate Autumn California Road Trip
America As You Like It (www.americaasyoulikeit.com / 020 8742 8299) has a 10 night fly-drive to California from £1360 per person (based on two sharing), including flights from Heathrow to San Francisco, returning from Los Angeles with United, 10 days fully inclusive car hire, two nights at the Holiday Inn Dublin-Pleasanton, two nights at the Super 8 in Sacramento, one night at the Sonora Inn, one night at the Best Western Yosemite Way Station in Mariposa, two nights at the Mammoth Mountain Inn and two nights at the Palm Canyon Resort in Palm Springs.
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